[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 96 (Wednesday, July 11, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7483-S7484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMENDING GARY SISCO FOR HIS SERVICE AS SECRETARY OF THE SENATE
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 127, which is at the
desk, and ask that the resolution be read in total.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 127) commending Gary Sisco for his
service as Secretary of the Senate:
S. Res. 127
Whereas, Gary Sisco faithfully served the Senate of the
United States as the 29th Secretary of the Senate from the
104th to the 107th Congress, and discharged the difficult
duties and responsibilities of that office with unfailing
dedication and a high degree of competence and efficiency;
and
Whereas, as an elected officer, Gary Sisco has upheld the
high standards and traditions of the United States Senate and
extended his assistance to all Members of the Senate; and
Whereas, through his exceptional service and professional
integrity as an officer of the Senate of the United States,
Gary Sisco has earned the respect, trust, and gratitude of
his associates and the Members of the Senate: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the Senate recognizes the notable
contributions of Gary Sisco to the Senate and to his Country
and expresses to him its deep appreciation for his faithful
and outstanding service, and extends its very best wishes in
his future endeavors.
Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy
of this resolution to Gary Sisco.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider
be laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 127) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I wanted the entire resolution to be read in
the Record because I did want a complete record of the appreciation of
the entire Senate for Gary Sisco who has served so capably over the
past 5 years as the Secretary of the Senate.
I appreciate Senator Daschle joining me for this time because he
knows, as I know, that we have some very dedicated officers of the
Senate and other employees of our floor staff who put in long hours and
do a great job in making this institution function the way it should.
We do not say thank you enough to those who serve in the Chamber with
us who make it possible for us to do our job, and we do not say thank
you enough to the officers of the Senate, people such as the Secretary
of the Senate, the Sergeant at Arms, the Chaplain, and others who work
every day to help make this place function.
I have a very personal warm feeling for Gary Sisco. He is from
Tennessee. He was born in Bolivar, TN, a small town. He grew up in
strictly a blue-collar family. I believe his father did serve for a
period of time as sheriff in that county in Tennessee.
I got to know him way back in, I guess, 1962 or 1963 at the
University of Mississippi. We became friends. I managed to even talk
him into joining the fraternity to which I belonged. We developed a
very close friendship.
He wound up having a blind date with his now wife, thanks to the
arrangement of my wife. Mary Sue Sisco is from Pascagoula, MS.
He went on to work with IBM after graduation and was involved in
gubernatorial campaigns in Tennessee. He served Gov. Lamar Alexander,
and then wound up in Washington and worked for Congressman Robin Beard
as his administrative assistant. He worked for Howard Baker reaching
the position of executive assistant. He then returned to Tennessee and
had a very successful business life.
Five years ago, I called on him and said: We need somebody who
understands computers, somebody who understands how to manage a pretty
good size operation, somebody who knows how to keep the books straight,
somebody who has political instinct and knows and loves the Senate. You
are the man.
He left his business in Nashville, TN, and came to Washington and has
been in the position of Secretary of the Senate for 5 years. He has
done a wonderful job.
The only thing I ever asked of him was: Gary, when we have a few
things
[[Page S7484]]
that need to be changed, need to be approved, let's just make sure when
you leave and I leave the position I am in, it is better than it was
when we got here.
I believe Gary Sisco has achieved that goal. To show you the kind of
man he is, Senator Daschle had agreed, frankly, that the officers of
the Senate could stay on through this session of Congress, even though
the majority might change. So I know he would have kept his word and
Gary could have stayed, but he submitted his resignation, and I agreed
that I think the majority leader should have officers of the Senate of
his selection. It was the right thing to do, but it was his idea; it
was not mine.
Senator Daschle has been very gracious in the way he has treated the
employees in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate. He has selected
an outstanding, capable, experienced person and one who also
understands the Senate very well, Jeri Thomson. I know she will
continue the great legacy Gary Sisco has built.
To my colleagues in the Senate, I thank them all for the courtesies
and support they have given to Gary Sisco, and I wish my friend the
very best in his next career.
Some of us, as Senator Daschle and myself, have been in the Congress
for many, many years now, in my case 28 years. I have to confess, in a
way, I am a little envious of a guy who was in the business sector, in
the political arena, in the congressional arena, back in the business
world, back in the Senate arena, and is now going out to the next stage
of his life. I am sure it will be an outstanding one.
I, again, extend my best wishes to Gary Sisco, his wife Mary Sue, and
their children. I know they will always have a special feeling in their
hearts for the Senate, and I believe the Senate also has that feeling
for them.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, first, I compliment the distinguished
minority leader on his remarks. I appreciate very much the opportunity
to address the resolution this afternoon.
Five years ago, Gary Sisco came to Washington and came to the job as
Secretary of the Senate with the full confidence of then-majority
leader Trent Lott. Today he leaves the Senate, leaves his job as
Secretary of the Senate, having earned the full confidence of now-
majority leader Tom Daschle.
That did not just happen because he had the title. It happened
because he worked at it. It happened because, in spite of the long
tradition that he had of working for very able Members of the Senate on
the Republican side in the Senate and the House and Governor, he came
leaving his Republican credentials at home. He came working with us as
Democrats and Republicans, equally serving his country and serving this
institution as ably as anyone can.
As Senator Lott has noted, the mark of a good and able public servant
is one who leaves his job in a better position than when he came. I can
say without equivocation Gary Sisco has met that test. It has been my
pleasure to work with him. I have come to admire him and respect him,
and I also respect the position he has taken with regard to this
particular resignation.
I confirm exactly what Senator Lott has just noted, that because of
my respect, not only for Senator Lott but for Gary Sisco and the
Sergeant at Arms, it was my view, in keeping the continuity of the
officers of the Senate, as well as because they were serving us so
well, they had every right and could have every expectation that
regardless of what may happen to the majority in the Senate, they would
have the full confidence and have the full support of both caucuses for
the duration of this Congress.
Gary Sisco has made his decision, and I respect it, but I do so with
a great deal of appreciation. I do so with the hope that he will come
back often. I do so with a realization that in this business we get to
work with quality people, people who give back to their country, to
their community, and to each of us in ways that I think is admirable.
He has done so. Our country owes him a debt of gratitude. This Senate
owes him a debt of gratitude.
On behalf of our caucus, I thank him for all he has given us. I yield
the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, again, I thank Senator Daschle for coming to
the Chamber and making that statement, and I look forward to working
with him and the new Secretary of the Senate to continue the very
efficient and fine way the Senate has been conducted, in the way the
Office of the Secretary of the Senate has been run. I know she will do
a great job.
Mr. President, I do not know who is controlling the time now, but I
want to be yielded time to speak against the pending amendment.
Several Senators addressed the Chair.
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, will the majority leader yield for 1
minute to comment on Mr. Sisco?
Mr. LOTT. I will be happy to do so.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader is recognized.
Mr. LOTT. I yield to Senator Sessions from Alabama.
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I thank the Republican leader and the
Democratic leader and others for their kind comments about Gary Sisco.
In short, he is one of the finest people I know. He served the Senate
with great integrity, ability, and fidelity. He has a wonderful family,
high personal values, the kind of person you like to know, like to call
your friend, you want to have in your home. He has served so well, and
he leaves with grace and style quite in harmony with his whole
lifestyle. I thank Senator Lott for raising this point, and I join in
his compliments.
Mr. LOTT. I believe the time has been off the leader time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct.
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